Health Benefits of Sexual Activity

All too often, we are confronted with the dangers of sexuality, so it was a wonderful treat to come across the report, "The Health Benefits of Sexual Expression," written by Beverly Whipple, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., Jon Knowles, and Jessica Davis and published by Planned Parenthood in cooperation with the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. Whipple, Knowles, and Davis compiled results of studies which validate the connections among physical, mental, emotional, spiritual AND sexual health.

There were a few facts I found especially interesting and surprising, which I give to you as "teasers" to encourage you to go read the article (as well as the original studies, cataloged in the article's extensive bibliography) yourself:

• Exposure to the sperm/semen of multiple men may actually contribute positively to a woman's physical and mental health! (That does not mean there are not potential risks also associated with having a high number of lifetime partners, but that there may be benefits as well.)
  
• Pre-coital sexual play before the age of 15 may be associated with development of long-term relationships!
• 67% of cultures that accept sex outside of a marriage were considered to be non-violent, but 73% of cultures that did not approve of sex before marriage experienced high levels of violence. Wow! (I will take a guess here and say that the U.S. is one in the latter group, yea? I wonder what would happen if our cultural expectations about sex shifted. Would our crime rates decrease, as well?)
  

Some of the other benefits of sexual expression and activity may include:

• Increased lifespan.
• Reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes.
• Improved immune response.
• Improved sleep.
• Increased pain tolerance.
• Decreased migraine symptoms.
• Reduced risk of breast cancer and endometriosis.
• Reduced risk of prostate cancer and non-bacterial prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate).
• Increased fertility.
• More regular mentrual cycles and relief of menstrual cramps.
• During pregnancy, decreased likelihood of preterm delivery, pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and increased emotional satisfaction.
• After menopause, decreased likelihood of experiencing vaginal atrophy or excessive vaginal dryness.
• Increased overall satisfaction with life, sense of well-being, and feelings of personal happiness.
• A more youthful appearance.
• Improved physical fitness and health.
• Decreased need for psychiatric medications.
• Decreased depression, suicidal tendencies, and suicidal attempts.
• Decreased violence.
• Reduced stress and relaxed muscles.
• Increased self-esteem.
• Increased feelings of intimacy, affection, and relationship satisfaction.
• Increased pair-bonding.
• Increased spiritual insight and satisfaction.

There are, of course, still risks associated with sexuality, so participate in responsible sexual activity, with an understanding of its risks and many benefits. Just don't forget the “benefits” part of the equation, as so many of us are wont to do. Sex is GOOD for us, too! So go! Have sex! And LOTS of it! And now, if you need logical reasons to do so, you have 'em.

(Disclaimer: My post is a summary of a summary, and you know how that game of "Telephone" works, yea? If, by chance, I have distorted any findings, know that that was not my intent, but that I will accept responsibility for having done so and gladly change it here. I also did not do any analysis of the methodology of the research itself.)